Lubricating device



1941- A. J. HENDERSON 'LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed April 1, 1939' 2 Sheets sheet l INVENTOR.

A. J. HENDEFQN UERICATIN q DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 cant pressure to a member Patented Dec. 9, 1941 LUBRICATING DEVICE Albert J. Henderson, Hem

moreland County, Pa.,

Patents Inc., Boston, Mass,

Massachusetts pfield Township, Westassignor to Walworth a corporation of Application April 1, 1939, Serial No. 265,430

9 Claims.

This invention relates to lubricating devices and more particularly to lubricating devices for valves. It is particularly adapted, although not limited, for services where high line pressure acting on one side of a valve member or the like, tend to force it tightly against its seat on the opposite side.

An object of this invention is to apply lubriin such manner as to counteract the effect of line pressure acting thereon.

Another object of the invention is to control the direction of lubricant flow in a positive manner.

Another object of the invention is to render such control entirely automatic.

Another object of the invention is operator of the device of any responsibility in determining which side of the member under pressure requires lubrication.

Another object of the invention is to permit the use of a single compressor for creating the necessary pressure on the lubricant to force it to one part or another of the seat.

Another object of the invention is to ensure lubricant flow to the part of the seat which requires it. regardless of the direction of flow of the line fluid.

Another object of the invention is to render the device removable as a unit from the structure to which it may have been applied.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device in such manner that it will be reliable in operation and will not easily wear out or become disorganized.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: a

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a valve having the invention incorporated therein.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a detail of the lubricating device.

Fig. 3 is a section Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by arrows and showing the valve in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3 but showing the valve in open position.

In this exemplary embodiment, the invention is applied to a lubricated plug valve but it will be apparent that its application is not limited to valves of this type or to valves generally. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the valve illustrated therein comprises a body member it having a tapered valve seat I! proto relieve the taken on the line 3-3 of vided with passageways l4- and I6 extending transversely thereof. The fluid passageways H and 16 extend from the valve seat l2 completely through the body In and may be provided at,

their outer ends with internal threaded portions l8, or other suitable connecting means, for securing the valve in a pipe line. At .the larger end of the valve seat I2 is a cover 20 secured to the body ID by means of the studs 22 and nuts 24.

Seated in the body I0 and rotatably engaging the valve seat I2 is a tapered plug member 26 having the port 28 extending transversely therethrough and being adapted to register with the passageways II and I6 when the valve is in open position. A stem 30 which projects from the larger end of the plug member 26 and defines a shoulder 3| thereon, extends through the cover 20 which is recessed to form a stumng box 32 around the stem. A packing 34 is received within the stufiing box 32and may be compressed into engagement with the stem 30 by means of a packing gland 36 adjustable by means of nuts 36 engaging the studs 22 whichproject through the cover 20 and the gland 36 for this purpose.

In the form of valve disclosed in this embodiment of the invention the plug member 26 is retained in its seat by the provision of an antiiriction bearing 40 which is seated on a retainer member 42 engaging a shoulder 44 on the valve stem 30 beyond the packing gland 36. The bearing 40 and retainer 42 are inclosed by a yoke 46 extending from the cover 20 and provided with an adjusting member 48 engaging the bearing 40. The stem 30 extends beyond the adlusting member 48 and the projecting end 50 is suitably squared or otherwise shaped for the reception of a wrench or other tool whereby the valve member 26 may be rotated in its seat.

Lubricant may be distributed to the valve seat in such valves by means of a system of lubricant grooves formed therein. In this instance, the valve seat I2 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite, transverse, lubricant grooves 52, each of which is located above one of the fluid passageways l4 and I6 respectively, said grooves together substantially surrounding the valve seat but having blind ends providing a pair of lands 54 therebetween. The seating surface I2 is further provided with a pair of diametrically opposite, transverse, lubricant grooves 56, each located below one of the fluid passageways l4 and I6, and having blind ends similar to the lubricant grooves 52 which are positioned thereabove. Furthermore, the valve seat I2 is provided with four longitudinal grooves 58, which shoulder 3i. I

extend from the bottom of the bore 62,'substan-, tially parallel with the axis of the valve stem III,

, but onset and spaced on each side of this axis. Connected at one end'to each passage 64 and a a extending substantially perpendicular thereto, is v I a, pair of branch passages -68 which diverge therefrom and communicate at their spaced ends I are located on each side of the passageways I 4 and I8 between the transverse grooves 52, and I I 56 at each end of the bodmbut terminating short of connection with these transverse grooves.

I The lubricant grooving system for the valve is. completed by the provision of eight dwarf grooves 60, four of which are located above the port 28 inthe valve member and the remaining four therebelow. These dwarf grooves 60 are substantially equally spaced around the periphery of the valve member 26 in such manner as to overlie the ends of the longitudinal grooves 58 and connect these longitudinal grooves to the transverse grooves 52 and 56 whenothe valve is in the full open and the full closed positions. There is thus a complete and independent frame of lubricant grooves around the passageways in both positions. When the valve member is rotated in thevalve seat I2 from either the full 1 open or full closedposition, the dwarf grooves 68 immediately become disconnected from communication with the longitudinal grooves and the two diametrically opposite longitudinal grooves is formed, thus becomes a reservoir from which lubricant may be forced by operation or the compressor 90. Such lubricant flows through the outlet 18 into the passages 64 for distribution to the valve seat. For convenience, the portion'of the lubricating device now to be described is shown as carried by an operating member 86 p p which engages the squared portion 50 of the valve stem and serves to rotate the valve member in its seat. It-will beunderstood however, that the valve operating member 96 is utilized merely'as a means for. supporting the lubricating device of this invention and plays no part in the opera- 88 which are exposed to the fluid in the line as I I 7 the port 28 passes acrossvthem will be disconnected from the lubricant grooving system.

This invention is more particularly 1 to controlling the flow of lubricant to each frame "of lubricant grooves in a positive manner. a To.

this end,'the valve stem 30 is provided with an axial bore 82 which terminates adjacent the A. pair of lubricantpassages 64 with the dwartgrooves '8 formed in the upper portion of the valve member 26. The passages 64,

together with their branches 8, thus provide separate sourcesof lubricant supply for each separate frame of grooves in the valve seat and both sources connect with the axial bore 82 in the valve stem.

' A sleeve "is rotatably mounted within the bore l2 and is provided with an axial passageway I8 extending therethrough but terminating in a blind end I2 adjacent the bottom of the bore 82. The passageway I8 maybe threaded for a portion of its length. and provided with a check valve I4 seated on the shoulder thus formed in the passageway.

may be retained against axial movement in the bore 62 by the provision of a retaining member I8 threadedly engaging the wall of the bore 82 and bearing upon a shoulder 88 formed by a I reduced portion 82 extending from the end of the sleeve 88. The reduced portion 82 proiects beyond the retaining member 18 and terminates in a'second reduced portion 84 which is provided with a key 86 extending longitudinally thereof for a purpose to be described later.

The threaded portion of the passageway I0 is tion thereof. It will, therefore, be apparent that the parts of the lubricating device now to be described could be supported in any other convenient manner and no particular relianceis placed upon the inclusion of the valve operating member in the structure for this purpose.-

Mounted on the projecting end 84 of the sleeve I I :68 is'a driven pinion 88 which is'secured against rotation by means of the key 88 engaging therewith. The pinion 98 has a hub portion Ill ex- I tending therefrom and forming a bearing end upon which a. second or driving pinion I02 is Journale'd. The pinion. I02 has an elongated hub portion I04 extending'therefrom and is axially bored of suflicient size to permit insertion and withdrawal of the threaded end 88' of 'the 'compressor screw therethrough. The compressor screw. 90 is provided with a slot III! in one side thereof extending from the head 82 to the threaded end 88. A. detent IIG projects from the elongated hub IIII of the pinion I02 into the slot I05 and forms means whereby the pinion I02 may be rotated on its bearing I 0. upon rotation of the compressor screw. v

Operatively engaging with the pinions l8 and III2 are two gears I08 and III respectively, which may be formed integrally as shown or may be formed separately and secured together. These gears I08 and II. are Journaled on a bearing pin II2 which is securedto the operating member 96. The operating member I! may beprovided with upstanding walls forming a housing H4 for the gears and pinions. These parts may all be enclosed in the housing'by a cover I I8 having an opening through which the elongated end I84 of the pinion I02 may extend.

The driving pinion I82 and the gear III, which is in effect an idler, have a complete set of teeth formed on their peripheries. The driven pinion l8 and the gear I08, which is a driver, are not similar in this respect as will now be'apparent.

By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings which adapted to receive the threaded end 88 of a com- 7 shows these parts diagrammatically, it will be seen that the pinion 88 has two separate sets of teeth III diagrammatically opposite each other and separated by two plain or non-toothed portions I2II. It will further be seen that the driving gear I08 also has two separate sets of teeth I22 separated by two plain or non-toothed portions I24. The parts-are so arranged that the engagement ofthe non-toothed portion I24 of the gear I08 with the non-toothed portion I20 of the pinion I! will serve to retain this pinion in a stationary position due to the friction therebetween.

are all in radial alignment.

When the teeth of driving gear I88 mesh with the teeth of the driven pinion 88 the latter will be rotated through 180 degrees and will then present the non-toothed portion on the opposite side to the non-toothed portion on the opposite side of the gear 'I88. The key 88 for pinion 88, the outlet IS in the opposite end of the sleeve, and the non-toothed portions of the piston 88 Hence, when the non-toothed portions of the pinion 88 and gear I08 are in engagement, the outlet 64 will be in registry with one or the other of the passages 64 in the valve member.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the pinion 88 and gear I88 are in the operative position shown in Fig. 2, the rotation of the lubricant compressor 88 will cause pinion I82 to drive gear II8, whereupon rotation of gear I88 will occur. As none of the teeth I22 of gear I88 is in mesh with the teeth II8 of pinion 88 no rotation of the pinion 88 will occur. Due to the frictional engagement of the non-toothed portions I24 and I28 of gear I88 and pinion 88 respectively, thelatter will be locked in stationary position holding the sleeve 88 against rotation during this period of lost motion. Hence, the lubricant compressor 88 will be caused to move longitudinally in the bore due to its threaded engagement therewith. Such movement of the compressor 88 will force lubricant through the outlet 16 into the passage as with which the outlet registers, from where it will be distributed to the lubricant grooves.

After the lost motion period due to engagement of the non-toothed portions has elapsed and gear 588 has rotated sumciently to engage its teeth I22 with those of pinion 88, the latter will be caused to rotate and revolve the sleeve 68 through an arc of 180 degrees, whereupon the engagement of the non-toothed portions of gears I88 and pinion 88 will again occur and serve to lock these members together. The outlet 18 will then bein registry with the other passage 64 and further rotation of the lubricant compressor will force lubricant to the opposite side of the valve seat. Thus, an'alternate lubrication of each side of the valve seat occurs automatically during continued rotation of the lubricant compressor 88. If the valve member is in closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and is being forced tightly against one side of its seatdue to pressure in the line, it will be apparent that sufllcient lubricant pressure can be applied to the valve seat to counteract the efiect of the line pressure and free the valve member from its seat. The valve member can then be rotated by actuation of the valve operating member 88 into the open position shown in Fig. 4. In this position the lubricant passages 88 leading from the passages 84 will communicate with the grooves on both sides of the valve seat simultaneously. The valve member is no longer subject to line pressure tending to force it to one side of its seat and lubricantwill be distributed to each side of the valve seat whenever the outlet 58 is in registry with a passage 84. It will be observed that the lubricant in the reservoir is placed under the pressure exerted by the compressor 88 only when the outlet 18 is in registry with a passage. At all other times the compressor and reservoir rotate as a unit.

During the rotation of the valve member from open to closed position the lubricating device rotate therewith as a unit without afiecting the relative positions of the pinions and gears or the operation of the device in any manner. The

. lubricant reservoir can be replenished by withdrawing the detent I88 from the slot I84 and removing the lubricant compressor from the sleeve 88. Should the directional control of the lubricant feed not be desired then the removal of the operating member 86 or other supporting means will serve to remove all parts of the lubricating device except the lubricant compressor 88 and the sleeve 68.

It will be understood that modification can be made in the construction of the device and in its mode of application to the structure to be lubricated without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A lubricating device adapted for use in connection with a member having a plurality of lubricant passages, said device comprising a reservoir for lubricant having an outlet registrable with any one of said passages, means having threaded engagement with the reservoir for compressing the lubricant therein and forcing it through the outlet, and means intermittently responsive to actuation of the lubricant compressing means for registering the outlet with any one of said passages while simultaneously preventing compression of said lubricant.

2. A lubricating device adapted for use in connection with a member having a plurality of lubricant passages, said device comprising a reservoir for lubricant having an outlet registrable with any one of said passages, means movable relatively to said reservoir for compressing the lubricant therein and forcing it through said outlet, and means for efiecting registry between the outlet and passages, said means being adapted for preventing relative movement of the compressing means and reservoir when the outlet is out of registry with said passages.

3. A lubricating device adapted for use inconnection with a member having a plurality of lubricant passages, said device comprising a reservoir for lubricant having an outlet registrable with any one or said passages. means movable relatively to said reservoir for compressing the v lubricant therein and forcing it through said outlet, and intermittently operable means for preventing said relative movement while simulta neously effecting registry between the outlet and a assage. 7

4. A lubricating device for a member provided with a plurality of lubricant passages said device comprising a reservoir for lubricant having an outlet registrable with any one of said passages, means rotatable relatively to said reservoir Ior compressing the lubricant therein and forcing it through the outlet, and intermittently operable means connected to said compressing means and reservoir for preventing relative rotation therebetween.

5. A lubricating device for a member having] I plurality oi lubricating passages associated therewith, said device comprlsing a lubricant reservoir having an outlet regi'strable with any one of said passages, means having threaded engagement with the'reservoir for compressing the lubricant.

therein and forcing it through the outlet, and means intermittently responsive to the actua tion of the lubricant compressing means for directing the lubricant into one or another of said passages. alternately while simultaneously preventing compression of said lubricant.

6. A lubricating device for a member having a plurality of lubricant passages said device comprising, a lubricant reservoir movable relatively to said member and having an outlet adapted to move into and out of registry with any one of said passages, means movable relatively to said reservoir for compressing the lubricant therein, and forcing it through the outlet, and means connected to said compressing means and reservoir for'eflecting registry between the outlet and passages, said means being adapted for preventing said relative movement when the outlet is out of registry with any one or said passages and permitting such movement when registry occurs.

7. A lubricating device for a member having a plurality of lubricant passages said device oomprising, a lubricant reservoir movable relatively to said member and having an outlet adapted to move into and out of registry with any one of said passages, means movable relatively to said reservoir for compressing the lubricant therein and forcing it through the outlet, driving means connected to said compressing means, and driven means associated with said reservoir for engagement with the driving means, said driving and driven means effecting registry between the outlet and passages and having a period of lost motion therebetween for intermittently preventing said relative movement of the reservoir.

8. A lubricating device for a member having a plurality of lubricant passages said device comprising, a lubricant reservoir movable relatively to said member and having an outlet adapted to move into and out of registry with any one of said passages, means movable relatively to said reservoir for compressing the lubricant therein and forcing it through the outlet, a driving pinion connected to said compressing means, an idler gear engaging with said pinion, a driving mouse gear-secured to said idler gear and having a nontoothcd portion thereon, and a driven pinion secured to said reservoir for engagement with said driving gear and having a non-toothed portion frictionally engageable with the non-toothed portion oi said driving gear, said non-toothed portions providing a period of lost motion during which said compressing means moves relatively to said reservoir.

9. A lubricating device for a member having a plurality of lubricant passages said device comprising, a sleeve extending axially of said memher and being rotatable relatively thereto, said sleeve having a threaded bore forming a lubricant reservoir and an outlet therefor movable into and out of registry with any one of said passages, a compressor screw rotatable in said reservoir for compressing the lubricant therein and forcing it through the outlet, 9. driving pinion rotatable by said screw, an idler gear engaging with said pinion, a driving gear secured to said idler gear and having a non-toothed portion thereon, a driven. pinion secured to said sleeve for engagement with said driving gear, said driven pinion having a non-toothed portion for frictional engagement with the non-toothed portion of said driving gear, said non-toothed portions being in engagement when the outlet is in registry with one of said passages and providing a period of lost motion during which said screw forces the lubricant through the outlet, said non-toothed portions becoming thereafter disengaged to permit rotation of the sleeve by said gears to bring said outlet into registry with another of said passages.

ALBERT J. HENDERSON. 

